adminPamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council said it is disconnecting water supplies to defaulters with amounts exceeding $200 and those residents who have gone for two months or more without paying their bills. The local authority’s senior public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu said yesterday that residents who ignore letters of final demand risk being disconnected or losing their household goods.
She said taking legal action was expensive for both the council and defaulters, hence they had resorted to disconnecting water supplies. She stressed that the amount that would result in disconnections was $200, not $2,000 as previously reported.
“The council recently resumed water disconnections to force residents to clear their arrears.
“Issuing summons comes as a last resort because it’s expensive so we want residents to come up with payment plans,” said Mpofu.
She said affected people are those that go for two months without paying anything.
Mpofu since council started disconnections, revenue inflows had greatly improved.
She could however not give the exact amount of money realised through the exercise.
“This exercise also encourages those with debts to come and explain to the council why they’re not paying and at least make payment plans. Unlike litigation, this process saves a lot of time and money,” said Mpofu.
She encouraged residents to pay their debts, saying it was not the council’s wish to attach people’s household goods.
“We agree with residents that defaulters still remain with huge bills to pay even after their household goods have been attached and auctioned. We therefore encourage residents facing challenges in paying their dues to come forward and make payment plans. Ignoring bills and letters of final demand costs more,” said Mpofu.
The payment plan system, she added, started as far back as 2010 and those who took heed have cleared their arrears.
Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Thaba Moyo said last week that council was struggling to recover $90 million it is owed by residents.
He said the arrears bill shot to $90 million in just one month compared to $50 million acrued over five years.
On Thursday, some residents had their household goods auctioned over unpaid bills.
Online Reporter